Mechanical Properties of Veins

6 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF VEENS B6.6.1 Static mechanical properties of veins 

The structure of the venous walls is basically similar to that of the arterial walls. The main difference is that they contain less muscle and elastic tissue than the arterial walls, which raises the static elastic modulus two to fourfold [49]. Because the venous walls are much thinner than the arterial wall, they are easily collapsible when they are subject to external compressions. 

Sobin [51] obtained data on the mechanical properties of human vena cava from autopsy material. The data may be expressed by the following equation  

The tensile properties of human venous tissues are presented in Table B6.20. For the testing method and definitions of the terms in the table, please refer to Section B6.5 on Mechanical properties of arteries. 

---

Mechanical properties of the arteries from human and various animals have been extensively studied. However, literature on lymphatic vessels is very scarce. The data on the circumferential elastic modulus of the lymphatic vessels obtained by Ohhashi et al [53, 54] seem to be too low considering that the lymphatics are originating from the veins. 

Sobin, P. (1977) Mechanical Properties of Human Veins. M.S. thesis. University of California, San Diego, California. 

Konig G, McAllister TN, Dusserre N, Garrido SA, lyican C, Marini A, FioriUo A, Avila H, Wystrychowski W, Zagalski K, Maruszewski M, Jones AL, Cierpka L, de la Fuente LM, L Heureux N. Mechanical properties of completely autologous human tissue engineered blood vessels compared to human saphenous vein and mammary artery. Biomaterials 30 1542-1550,2009. 

Mechanical layering also affects aperture variations of hydrofractures. The aperture of a vertical (extension) vein is commonly greater in soft layers than in stiff layers. In soft layers, however, the veins are often inclined (shear fractures) in which case their apertures are smaller. Aperture changes between layers with different mechanical properties may lead to flow channelling. 

---